PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hone Huia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by London Calling. Huia is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Poi E - Patea Maori Club. Hone Huia acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Graves
vs
Huia

190 cm
36
198 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

190 cm
36
202 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Revolution Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hone Huia!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huia misses with a lunging right hand

and Graves counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Huia!
Huia gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Graves goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Huia is on top in guard.

Graves is looking for a triangle but Huia pushes his legs off easily.
Huia looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Huia wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.

Graves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Huia is aware though and is defending well.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Graves wants to hit a switch here but Huia passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Graves there!
Graves has given up his back here. Will Huia look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Graves rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Graves is refusing to be controlled, as Huia sits in half guard.
Huia tries to pass to full mount but Graves defends it.
Graves's coaches at FIERCE have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Huia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Huia wants to work for an arm triangle but Graves is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Huia prevents Graves from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Huia.
Graves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Huia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Huia's back!
Huia is trying to break free.

Graves is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Huia defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves looking for the choke from the back.

Graves working for the choke.
Huia is trying to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huia turns into Graves and is now in his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Graves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Huia defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huia pushes down on Graves's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Huia pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Graves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Graves has an active guard here but Huia has managed to pass into half guard.
Graves won't allow Huia to pass to mount.

Graves actively working from the bottom here.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huia wants to control but Graves is keeping him busy.
Huia is looking to advance position but Graves won't allow it.

Huia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Graves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Huia working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Huia prevents Graves from improving his position.
Huia uses his free foot to push down on Graves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Graves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alex Graves will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Huia lands a jab to the nose.
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Huia throws out the jab.
Graves changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Graves.
It seemed like Huia was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Huia lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Huia misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huia throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.

Graves shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Huia napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Huia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Graves is trying to get an arm triangle but Huia is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia can't do much from the bottom here.

Graves swings around for an armbar but Huia sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Graves's guard.
Huia is pushing down on Graves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Graves is fighting to maintain full guard but Huia has managed to sneak the leg through.

Huia seems to be looking for submissions.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.

Huia is working for a submission of some sort.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Huia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Graves has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Huia escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Huia!
Graves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Graves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Graves is refusing to be controlled, as Huia sits in half guard.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Huia is looking to take a break and control but Graves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to improve his position but Huia is controlling well.

Huia wants to work for an arm triangle but Graves is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Huia prevents Graves from improving his position.

Huia seems to be looking for submissions.
Graves is in trouble now - Huia has advanced to mount!
Graves regains half guard.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Huia pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves looking for a kimura from the bottom but Huia passes into side control!
Graves manages to get back to half guard.
Huia stalling.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Huia uses his free foot to push down on Graves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Graves.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves working to try and regain half guard.
Huia tries to control but Graves wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hone Huia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Huia throws a hook to the side of Graves's head but Graves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Graves appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A big right from Huia misses.
Alex Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Huia.
Huia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Graves.
Huia throws the left hand but Graves avoids the punch easily.
Graves has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Graves there as he acknowledges the shot.
Huia throws an overhand right that lands on Graves's shoulder, as Graves tries to avoid the shot.
Graves changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Huia.
Graves feinted with a counter takedown.
Huia misses with a right hand

and Graves counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Huia is pressing down on Graves's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Huia is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Graves manages to get himself to full guard.

Graves has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Huia is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Graves.
Graves is trying to improve his position.
Graves gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Huia is keen to just control but Graves is a slippery customer.

Graves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Huia frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Huia is trying to control the action in half guard but Graves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Huia pulls his head out easily.
Graves gets back to full guard.

Graves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graves keeping full guard, as Huia tries to pass.

Graves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Huia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Huia is pushing down on Graves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Graves is fighting to maintain full guard but Huia has managed to sneak the leg through.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Huia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Graves is looking to improve his position.

Huia seems to be looking for submissions.
Graves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Huia seems to be working for a kimura but Graves defends the submission attempt.
Graves tries to roll over but Huia keeps him under control.
Huia is trying to control the action in half guard but Graves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Graves is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves is staying active underneath Huia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Graves tries to roll over but Huia keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hone Huia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Huia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hone Huia!
Alex Graves spoke after the fight, saying 'This isn't over. That was luck and we will be back to breaking arms and spirits very soon!'.